by | Mar 28, 2024 | Aggregate
Houston Mayor John Whitmire admitted last week that the city is “broke.” (KRIV-TV / screen shot)
Democrat Mayor John Whitmire delivered a sobering message to the citizens of Houston, declaring that the city is “broke.”
I think we can all agree on that, we are broke. This gives us a chance to discuss the financial picture of this City. It is broken! It was broken when I got here,” Whitmire claimed according to FOX 26.
Houston, the fourth-most populous city in the United States and seventh in North America, has a history of predominantly Democratic leadership, with only two Republican mayors since its founding in 1837.
Now, facing an estimated current deficit of at least $160 million, Whitmire is proposing a 5% across-the-board cut to all aspects of city government, excluding essential services like firefighters and police.
“I don’t like a 5% cut now, but you have to make tough decisions and folks put me in this position to make tough decisions, and I’m going to do my job,” Whitmire said.
The city’s financial woes stem in part from a long-standing labor dispute with firefighters, which was recently settled at a cost of 650 million for back pay and 180 million for annual wage hikes.
City Council Member Willie Davis believes that the settlement is a significant compromise, stating, “This is going to come down to a financial sacrifice by the City. Now we can either be 1.2 billion broke or we can be 650 million broke.”
The increasing financial burden has alarmed other council members, including Tiffany Thomas, who questioned the next steps for generating revenue. The mayor has indicated that part of the solution may involve requesting more taxpayer support.
However, critics have accused the city of financial mismanagement. Bill King, a local columnist and businessman, criticized former Mayor Sylvester Turner, stating that the city’s financial issues have been apparent for over a decade and were only masked by a temporary influx of federal dollars, according to Daily Mail.
With the necessity of a tax hike looming, City Controller Chris Hollins mentioned a potential bond measure for the November ballot, where taxpayers may be asked to contribute more to address the shortfall.
Daily Mail reported:
H-town’s money problems come at a time when the rest of the Lone Star State is swimming in cash.
The Republican state, well-known for not having a state income tax, saw a nearly $33 billion surplus last year– more than the state budget of South Carolina.
Much of that is due to the hordes of people moving to Texas– with projections saying Dallas could overtake New York as the most populous city in the country by 2100.
If population trends hold, Houston would replace Los Angeles as the second largest city in the US.
Despite all the newcomers, local leaders haven’t been able to cash in on the new arrivals, like other cities and town.
Critics say the city should not default to taxing residents when they could raise the money but cutting the fat inside city hall and selling an expensive art collection owned by the city.
‘The first thing we need to do is find where the money is first as opposed to the typical liberal answer to every problem: raise taxes on the people,’ conservative political analyst Gary Polland suggested.
One idea is charge for services like trash collection, which are currently free.
WATCH:
The post Houston Democrat Mayor John Whitmire Declares City is ‘Broke’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
by | Mar 28, 2024 | Aggregate
Credit: WREX
The city of Rockford, Illinois, has been plunged into mourning following a horrific stabbing spree that left four people dead and seven others injured on Wednesday afternoon.
The Rockford Police Department responded to a medical emergency call at approximately 1:14 p.m., which quickly escalated into a multi-scene investigation leading to the discovery of multiple victims.
Authorities confirmed that the violence unfolded across several locations in the northern Illinois city, approximately 94 miles from Chicago.
Police Chief Carla Redd addressed the media, extending her deepest sympathies to the victims’ families and indicating that a 22-year-old male suspect was promptly taken into custody for questioning. However, still no ID was released.
“This is a pretty painstaking event,” Chief Redd expressed. “My heart goes out to the families right now who are suffering a loss.”
The victims, whose identities have not been disclosed, included a 15-year-old girl, a 63-year-old woman, a 49-year-old man, and another 22-year-old man, according to USA Today.
Rockford Fire Department District Chief Will Pederson confirmed that three victims succumbed to their injuries at the scene, while a fourth passed away after being transported to a local hospital.
The Rockford police reported that one of the injured remains in critical condition, with several others stabilized. Two additional victims, acknowledged by the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, received treatment for their injuries, according to CNN.
The suspect was apprehended following a home invasion report, according to Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana. Providing details on the encounter, Sheriff Caruana recounted how a female victim managed to escape the attacker despite sustaining injuries. A good Samaritan who came to her aid was also wounded but is reportedly in good condition.
“We don’t have a clear motive in regard to what caused this individual to commit such heinous crimes,” Police Chief Carla Redd said.
CNN reported:
Police said not all of the victims were stabbed, nor did they have any gunshot wounds, but did not indicate how the other victims died or were injured. One of the deceased victims was a mailman, according to the sheriff.
“This is a very active and multi-level, multi-agency investigation and has an extensive amount of moving parts,” the Wednesday evening news release said. “As with any investigation, further details and charges may come at a later date.”
Police urged residents to look at their cameras and doorbells for any video footage related to the incidents, and to submit any tips to police or anonymously through the Rockford Area Crime Stoppers.
Speaking at the news conference, Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara said he was “totally shaken by this act of violence and the impact that it’s having now on multiple families’ lives.”
There will be counselors on-site at Flinn Middle School on Thursday and Friday to help those individuals and families that have been impacted, he said.
“It’s hard to grasp how this could happen and how emotional and raw the community is tonight,” the mayor said in a Facebook post. “As a dad, a son, a husband, the Mayor and a Rockford supporter, my heart is breaking for those who have lost their lives, their families and our community.”
WATCH:
This stabbing rampage comes on the heels of another violent incident in the city, where a Walmart employee was fatally stabbed just days prior.
Also, the chair and a member of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board resigned amid controversy after they approved the release of a man who committed a fatal stabbing of his ex-girlfriend’s young son, less than a day after his release.
The post Four Dead, Several Injured in Stabbing Spree in Northern Illinois — Suspect in Custody (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
by | Mar 28, 2024 | Aggregate
A video clip showing Sean “Diddy” Combs spending time with a then 15-year-old Justin Bieber has reemerged following the search of the rapper’s properties as part of a federal investigation into human trafficking.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) raided Combs’ properties in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, and Miami’s Star Island on Monday, March 25, as part of a broader sex trafficking probe.
Combs has been accused of drugging and sexually assaulting young women.
“Earlier today, Homeland Security Investigations New York executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami and our local law enforcement partners. We will provide further information as it becomes available,” Homeland Security Investigations said in a statement.
Footage provided by SkyFOX showed agents arresting a few individuals. It is unclear who was in the home at the time of the raid. It is unclear who was detained by the feds.
WATCH:
FOX 11 reporting from the Los Angeles home of Sean Diddy Combs as it was raided by Homeland Security; there were people home at the time: pic.twitter.com/9ZqGC0mJLs
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) March 25, 2024
JUST IN: I obtained new video from Monday’s Homeland Security raid at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ home in L.A. One of his sons can be seen in handcuffs as federal agents use a loud speaker to say “come out with your hands up”. #Diddy #LosAngeles pic.twitter.com/aNRPsQIZE3
— Matthew Seedorff (@MattSeedorff) March 26, 2024
The Gateway Pundit previously reported that Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, an American musician and producer, has instigated legal action against Combs, his son Justin Dior Combs, chief of staff Kristen Khorram, and various entities including Universal Music Group and Motown Records.
Jones alleges enduring illegal and traumatic experiences while residing with Combs and working on the “Love” album.
The lawsuit accuses Combs of continuous recording demands, illegal drug use and distribution, as well as the provision of spiked beverages to minors and sex workers. Jones has compared Khorram to Ghislaine Maxwell for her role in allegedly procuring drugs for Combs’ operations.
In a detailed account, Jones describes an incident at a Hollywood recording studio where a shooting took place, resulting in injuries to himself and another individual, known only as “G.” The lawsuit claims Combs instructed witnesses to misinform police about the circumstances of the shooting.
In light of these developments, Homeland Security Investigations spearheaded the operation that targeted Combs’ Holmby Hills and Star Island homes. Although details of the investigation are scarce, the statement from Homeland Security confirms it is part of a broader inquiry requiring federal and local law enforcement collaboration.
Combs, through his legal representation, denounced the raids, describing them as unnecessarily aggressive and defending his innocence in the face of the allegations.
“Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ residences. There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated,” Aaron Dyer, an attorney for Combs told The Daily Mail.
Revelations from retired NYPD detective Derrick Parker, once part of the “Hip Hop Cops,” suggest that Combs’ influence might have previously shielded him from scrutiny. Parker hinted at the possibility of an informant within Diddy’s inner circle propelling the federal investigation.
The controversy deepens with the emergence of a video showing Combs alongside a 15-year-old Justin Bieber, making statements that have raised eyebrows in light of the current allegations.
In the video, Combs boasts about spending forty-eight hours with Bieber, hinting at activities kept secret from the public eye.
Daily Mail reported:
In the clip Diddy, born Sean Love Combs, stands next to the young pop sensation and tells the camera ‘He’s having forty-eight hours with Diddy, where we hanging out and what we’re doing we can’t really disclose,’ he explained.
‘But it’s definitely a 15-year-old’s dream.’
The hip hop mogul added: ‘I have been given custody of him. He’s signed to Usher and I had legal guardianship of Usher when he did his first album.
‘I don’t have legal guardianship of him [Bieber] but for the next forty-eight hours he’s with me and we’re gonna go full crazy.’
Bieber, wearing a black baseball cap and purple shirt smiles and looks up at Diddy throughout the video, making small comments such as ‘yeah’ and ‘full crazy.’
The video was posted to social media and triggered an outpouring of criticism and concern, with one person labelling the footage ‘creepy’.
WATCH:
The post Resurfaced Footage Shows Diddy with Teenager Justin Bieber, Teasing Secret Activities as ‘Every 15-Year-Old’s Dream’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
by | Mar 28, 2024 | Aggregate
A fire broke out in a kiosk near the Lincoln Memorial Circle on Thursday morning.
The victim of the fire has been flown out by a U.S. Park Police helicopter and is being treated at a nearby hospital for serious injuries.
DC Fire authorities were able to put out the fire and secure propane tanks located inside the kiosk.
DC fire authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire.
WATCH:
@washingtonpost @fox5dc fire at Lincoln Memorial on Thursday morning pic.twitter.com/XkMEVQxFTD
— Jeannie in D.C. (@RiverGirl707) March 28, 2024
Per NBC 4 Washington:
A fire at a kiosk near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Thursday seriously injured a man, officials said.
D.C. Fire and EMS responded to Lincoln Memorial Circle and found a small structure in flames.
A U.S. Park Police helicopter took the victim for medical treatment, D.C. Fire said. He is expected to survive. U.S. Park Police said the victim is associated with the kiosk.
The fire has been extinguished, officials said.
The aftermath:
Update kiosk fire Lincoln Memorial Circle NW. Continue to wet down kiosk. Propane tanks have been secured. The victim has been flown to an area trauma center with serious non life threatening injuries. Media staging is at French Dr. and Lincoln Memorial Circle. #DCsBravest pic.twitter.com/P4f0h6VrUK
— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) March 28, 2024
The fire comes a week after thick smoke was spotted above the Lincoln Memorial stemming from a vehicle fire on the Washington Memorial Parkway.
READ:
Black Smoke Spotted Over Lincoln Memorial Causes Scare
The post Fire Breaks Out in Kiosk Near Lincoln Memorial, One Man Seriously Injured appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
by | Mar 28, 2024 | Aggregate
Members of a Chinese military honor guard march during a welcome ceremony for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Peter Pace at the Ministry of Defense in Beijing, China, March 22, 2007. DoD photo by Staff Sgt. D. Myles Cullen. (Released)
The Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs announced charges against seven hackers associated with Chinese Communist Government for targeting perceived critics of China and US businesses and politicians.
The seven Chinese hackers were named in the DOJ press release.
The victims were politicians from both parties and critics of the Chinese Communist regime. However, the politicians were not named in the DOJ report.
Hat Tip John Mills
Here is a copy of the indictment.
Via the DOJ.
An indictment was unsealed today charging seven nationals of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) with conspiracy to commit computer intrusions and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their involvement in a PRC-based hacking group that spent approximately 14 years targeting U.S. and foreign critics, businesses, and political officials in furtherance of the PRC’s economic espionage and foreign intelligence objectives.
The defendants are Ni Gaobin (倪高彬), 38; Weng Ming (翁明), 37; Cheng Feng (程锋), 34; Peng Yaowen (彭耀文), 38; Sun Xiaohui (孙小辉), 38; Xiong Wang (熊旺), 35; and Zhao Guangzong (赵光宗), 38. All are believed to reside in the PRC.
“The Justice Department will not tolerate efforts by the Chinese government to intimidate Americans who serve the public, silence the dissidents who are protected by American laws, or steal from American businesses,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This case serves as a reminder of the ends to which the Chinese government is willing to go to target and intimidate its critics, including launching malicious cyber operations aimed at threatening the national security of the United States and our allies.”
“Over 10,000 malicious emails, impacting thousands of victims, across multiple continents. As alleged in today’s indictment, this prolific global hacking operation – backed by the PRC government – targeted journalists, political officials, and companies to repress critics of the Chinese regime, compromise government institutions, and steal trade secrets,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “The Department of Justice will relentlessly pursue, expose, and hold accountable cyber criminals who would undermine democracies and threaten our national security.”
“Today’s announcement exposes China’s continuous and brash efforts to undermine our nation’s cybersecurity and target Americans and our innovation,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “As long as China continues to target the US and our partners, the FBI will continue to send a clear message that cyber espionage will not be tolerated, and we will tirelessly pursue those who threaten our nation’s security and prosperity. This indictment underscores our unwavering commitment to disrupt and deter malicious cyber activity, and safeguard our citizens, businesses, and critical infrastructure from threats in cyberspace.”
The post Seven Chinese Hackers Indicted for Computer Intrusions Targeting Critics of China, Businesses and Politicians appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
